IUPUI vs. Kentucky

Deciding between Indiana University Indianapolis and University of Kentucky? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Indiana University Indianapolis
University of Kentucky

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • IUPUI Indianapolis, IN
  • Kentucky Lexington, KY
  • Setting
  • IUPUI Large City
  • Kentucky Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • IUPUI 22,534
  • Kentucky 34,709
  • Type
  • IUPUI Public 4 Year
  • Kentucky Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • IUPUI #409
  • Kentucky #437
  • Religious Affiliation
  • IUPUI -
  • Kentucky -
  • Status
  • IUPUI Non-profit
  • Kentucky Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • IUPUI
  • Kentucky
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • IUPUI $10,762
  • Kentucky $13,502
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • IUPUI $34,891
  • Kentucky $34,140
  • Room & Board
  • IUPUI $13,308
  • Kentucky $16,016
  • Average Net Price
  • IUPUI $12,228
  • Kentucky $21,958
  • Average Grant Aid
  • IUPUI $11,104
  • Kentucky $12,898
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • IUPUI 82%
  • Kentucky 95%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • IUPUI 15,643
  • Kentucky 31,517
  • Admitted
  • IUPUI 11,947
  • Kentucky 29,293
  • Acceptance Rate
  • IUPUI 76.4%
  • Kentucky 92.9%
  • Enrolled
  • IUPUI 24.6%
  • Kentucky 22.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • IUPUI 1140
  • Kentucky 1180
  • Typical ACT score
  • IUPUI 25
  • Kentucky 24
  • Average High School GPA
  • IUPUI 3.52
  • Kentucky 3.59
  • Typical High School Grades
  • IUPUI A-
  • Kentucky A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • IUPUI Average
  • Kentucky Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • IUPUI
  • Kentucky
  • ACT Range
  • IUPUI 21/29
  • Kentucky 21/28
  • SAT Range
  • IUPUI 1030/1240
  • Kentucky 1070/1290
  • Submit Test Scores
  • IUPUI Test optional
  • Kentucky Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • IUPUI May 15, 2027
  • Kentucky Feb 15, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • IUPUI 13:1
  • Kentucky 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • IUPUI
    • Health Professions (18%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering Technology (5%)
  • Kentucky
    • Business (19%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Engineering (8%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (8%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • IUPUI 33%
  • Kentucky 59%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • IUPUI $48,600
  • Kentucky $51,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • IUPUI 53%
  • Kentucky 62%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • IUPUI $23,090
  • Kentucky $22,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • IUPUI $238
  • Kentucky $235
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • IUPUI 35%
  • Kentucky 40%
  • % Women
  • IUPUI 65%
  • Kentucky 60%
  • Racial Diversity
  • IUPUI Medium
  • Kentucky Low
  • HBCU
  • IUPUI No
  • Kentucky No
  • % White
  • IUPUI 72%
  • Kentucky 76%
  • % Asian
  • IUPUI 4%
  • Kentucky 2%
  • % Black
  • IUPUI 10%
  • Kentucky 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • IUPUI 6%
  • Kentucky 4%
  • % Native American
  • IUPUI 0%
  • Kentucky 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • IUPUI 0%
  • Kentucky 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • IUPUI 4%
  • Kentucky 3%
  • % International
  • IUPUI 4%
  • Kentucky 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • IUPUI 1%
  • Kentucky 3%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • IUPUI 94%
  • Kentucky 58%
  • % Out-of-State
  • IUPUI 4%
  • Kentucky 41%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • IUPUI Yes
  • Kentucky Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • IUPUI No
  • Kentucky No
  • Meal Plan
  • IUPUI Yes
  • Kentucky Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • IUPUI Yes
  • Kentucky No
  • Daycare Facility
  • IUPUI Yes
  • Kentucky No

Comparable Facts

Compare Indiana University Indianapolis in Indianapolis, IN with University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Kentucky is larger than IUPUI based on total student enrollment (34,709 students vs. 22,534 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Indiana University Indianapolis is located in Indianapolis, IN (Large City setting); University of Kentucky is in Lexington, KY (Large City setting).
  • Indiana University Indianapolis is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Kentucky is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Indiana University Indianapolis 13:1; University of Kentucky 18:1.

IUPUI vs. Kentucky Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IUPUI or Kentucky? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Indianapolis than Kentucky ($12,228 vs. $21,958).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Indianapolis are 16.9% lower than at University of Kentucky ($13,308 vs. $16,016).
  • University of Kentucky is 25.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than IUPUI (about $2,740 more per year; $13,502.00 vs. $10,762.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.2% higher at IUPUI than at University of Kentucky (about $751 more per year; $34,891.00 vs. $34,140.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Kentucky than at Indiana University Indianapolis (95% vs. 82%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Kentucky students is 16.2% larger than aid received by Indiana University Indianapolis students ($12,898 vs. $11,104).

IUPUI vs. Kentucky Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IUPUI or Kentucky? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Kentucky and IUPUI.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Kentucky (1180) is 40 points higher than at IUPUI (1140).
  • Incoming IUPUI students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at Kentucky).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Indianapolis 1030/1240; University of Kentucky 1070/1290.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Indiana University Indianapolis 21/29; University of Kentucky 21/28.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: IUPUI - Test optional; Kentucky - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: IUPUI May 15, 2027; Kentucky Feb 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Kentucky students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at IUPUI (3.52).
  • Kentucky has a higher acceptance rate (92.9%) than IUPUI (76.4%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 24.6% at IUPUI vs. 22.2% at Kentucky.

IUPUI vs. Kentucky Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for IUPUI and Kentucky? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • University of Kentucky's six-year graduation rate (59%) is higher than Indiana University Indianapolis's (33%).
  • Graduates from University of Kentucky earn a median of about $2,400 more per year than IUPUI graduates about ten years after starting college ($51,000 vs. $48,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Kentucky graduates have a $340 lower median loan debt than IUPUI graduates ($22,750 vs. $23,090).
  • Among borrowers, Kentucky graduates have an estimated $3 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than IUPUI graduates ($235 vs. $238).
  • More Kentucky graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IUPUI students, three years after graduation. (62% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.